STWF Sports|Nov. 20, 2025 – In Buffalo, expectations for Josh Allen are never modest. The 29-year-old franchise quarterback, fresh off signing a six-year, $330 million extension, carries the weight of a city still longing for its first Lombardi Trophy. And as he pushes into his eighth NFL season — one marked by MVP honors and perennial playoff heartbreak — Allen has developed a set of rituals that help keep him grounded, focused, and ready for battle.

Some are sweet.
Some are strange.
And one is downright stomach-churning.

Allen & Steinfeld’s Weekly “Game Week Date”

Before the Bills’ quarterback ever steps onto the field at Orchard Park, his preparation begins with something far more intimate: dinner with his wife, actress Hailee Steinfeld.

The couple have established a weekly tradition that Allen says helps set the tone for his mindset heading into the weekend.

“When I’m staying in Buffalo, me and my wife have a little routine of eating at this Italian spot called Mangia,” Allen shared.
“We keep it pretty similar, pretty much the same.”

For an athlete who lives in the spotlight — and whose every throw is scrutinized by fans, analysts, and the Bills Mafia — the simplicity of a quiet Italian dinner with his wife is a rare window into normalcy.

When the Bills hit the road, Allen adjusts the ritual, but not by much.

“It’s pasta, or some fried rice and chicken — that’s probably my go-to,” he said.

Nothing flashy. No exotic pregame meals. Just comfort food and family routine.

But Then There’s the Vomiting

While Allen’s dinner dates with Steinfeld draw smiles, one of his longest-running pregame habits inspires a very different reaction.

He throws up before every game.

And yes — he says he does it on purpose.

“I throw up before every game. Just because,” Allen told Fox Sports’ Charissa Thompson.
“It’s not nerves… it’s really weird.”

The Bills quarterback explained that the habit originated in college, when his pregame anxiety often produced excessive mucus. One day he vomited before kickoff — and noticed he felt better and clearer during the game.

Since then, the ritual has stuck.

He even recalled doing it before a preseason matchup against Detroit two years ago:

“Throughout the game I didn’t have any mucus. I was like, I might have to start doing that.”

If it works, it works. And for Allen — who has become one of the league’s most dynamic quarterbacks — no routine is too strange in the pursuit of excellence.

Pressure Mounts as Super Bowl Remains Elusive

Allen’s habits serve one overarching purpose: keeping him sharp as he chases the Super Bowl title he and Buffalo so desperately crave.

Despite a historic 2024 season capped by his first MVP award, the postseason ended the same way it so often has — in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

It was the fourth time in five years the Chiefs eliminated Buffalo in the playoffs.

And while Allen has racked up seven postseason victories — the most by any quarterback without a Super Bowl appearance — he remains focused only on the championship that keeps slipping out of reach.

“It’s never been a goal of mine to win MVP,” Allen told ESPN.
“It’s been to win the Super Bowl MVP. That’s the one.”

In classic Josh Allen fashion, he insisted the trophy wouldn’t define him — but acknowledged how much it would mean to the city he represents.

“It’s something the city’s wanted for a long time… to feel like I can be a piece that brings it here would be special.”

Bills Sitting at 7–3 as Playoff Push Begins

After an emotional win over Kansas City earlier this season, the Bills suffered a shock loss to the Dolphins — a reminder of how tight the AFC playoff race will be.

Buffalo bounced back, however, and now sits 7–3 heading into a Thursday Night Football showdown with the Houston Texans.

Expectations remain sky-high. Pressure remains immense. The city remains hungry.

And Josh Allen — visor, Italian dinners, and pregame vomiting included — remains the quarterback Buffalo believes can finally deliver the Super Bowl dream.